Kjell

This song by Elliott Smith sums up my alcoholism the best.

Drink up baby, stay up all night
With the things you could do, you won't but you might
The potential you'll be that you'll never see
The promises you'll only make

Drink up with me now, forget all about
The pressure of days, do what I say
And I'll make you okay, drive them away
The image is stuck in your head

People you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still

Drink up baby, look at the stars
Ill kiss you again between the bars
Where I'm seeing you there with your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught

Drink up one more time a I'll make you mine
Keep you apart, deep in my heart
Separate from the rest but I like you the best
Keep the things you forgot

People you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still

Drink up baby, stay up all night
With the things you could do, you won't but you might
The potential you'll be that you'll never see

bellakeller

Wish that guy had lived a little longer.....

MsCooterBrown

Thanks for sharing Mister. Good thing I no longer think you are a girl huh??

Danae

I love Elliott Smith---but have never seen the words to between the bars written out, so it was v. interesting. Thanks. I too wish he had lived longer.

D

AmericanGirl

Hi Kjell. Funny story about that song for me.

I've also thought for a long time that "Between the Bars" is a song that captures my drinking hell, if not the song. . . I remember thinking about this while lying on a bed when I lived in the UK, so that must have been 8 or so years ago now (why did it take me so long to do something about quitting if I was thinking that then--oh, it can drive you crazy to wonder . . .)

I always took the line about bars literally (like being between watering holes) until finally someone (or maybe I realized on my own, but it definitely took a long time) made me understand it was also about being imprisoned . . . duh. Guess that shows you how much booze can harm your mental facilities.

A beautiful song on a beautiful album . . . RIP.

Kjell

If you read it like it's the alcohol talking to the person, it makes total sense.

Great album, great song, great artist.

I used to drink/drug and listen to him all the time and think "this guy gets me, but I'll never be that bad. Little did I know...

BellaTeal

This song gives me the chills